The daughter of Hulk Hogan is holding on to a happy final memory of her father after the wrestling icon passed away on Thursday at the age of 71.
The Hogan family went through a bitter feud in the months leading up to the wrestler’s death at his Florida home.
But according to TMZ, Brooke Hogan was able to tell her father – born Terry Bollea – that she loved him in their last conversation.
Brooke and Hulk were estranged for a number of years and it’s said she first learned of his death when her brother, Nick, texted Brooke’s husband – NHL star Steven Oleksy – to share the news.
Oleksy and Brooke married in 2022 and on Thursday evening, the former hockey player broke his silence on the death of his father-in-law. Responding to a friend’s tribute to Hogan, he wrote on Instagram: ‘Thank you for the love and support for my beautiful wife.’
TMZ reported that the wrestling legend and his daughter last spoke to each other in September of 2023 – two weeks before Hogan married his third wife, Sky.
Brooke Hogan says that she told her father, Hulk Hogan, she loved him the last time they talked
Brooke (pictured in 2009) and Hulk were estranged and hadn’t spoken since 2023
Hogan, one of the most iconic wrestlers of all time, died on Thursday at 71 from a heart attack
On that call, Brooke expressed love and concern for her father – telling him that he shouldn’t be working so hard due to his declining health. Despite her pleas for him to enjoy more of his life, those requests fell on deaf ears. The pair didn’t speak again.
The outlet also claims that Hulk apologized to Brooke on the call, but it wasn’t clear what that apology was for.
TMZ also reported that Brooke was concerned with what was going on in Hulk’s life and was protective of him. However, their relationship wasn’t reparable.
Despite multiple attempts from her husband to fix their relationship, including when Brooke almost died in childbirth, Hulk ‘responded coldly and never made an effort to meet Brooke’s kids’, TMZ says. The outlet added that Hulk seemingly ‘only wanted a relationship with her under his terms’.
In April, the Daily Mail exclusively revealed that Hogan was ‘heartbroken’ about his ongoing family feud – specifically with Brooke.
‘The massive uphill battle might finally be taking place,’ an inside source told us.
‘Hogan is finally hearing and listening to those that have been thrown in different directions by his behavior. He is looking to make up for past bad decisions.’
While it’s said that Hogan wanted to stay as ‘far away from Linda as possible’, our source added: ‘He’s heartbroken that he doesn’t have a relationship with his daughter and would love someday to rectify that.
‘As this current drama has occurred and all the s*** that he has gone through piles on to itself, he is finally looking to see if he can make amends and help rather than hurt.
Daily Mail reported Hogan wanted to fix his relationship with Brooke (second L) in his final days
The wrestler’s ex-wife Linda, left, has blamed him for the breakdown of her relationship with 36-year-old Brooke, center
Hulk and Linda, who have two kids together, were married for 26 years between 1983 and 2009
‘He knows that many will think it is a boy who cried wolf situation, and it will be hard to trust him – but he is looking to do the work.
‘Nothing will be overnight but now that his daughter and his ex-wife have said their things, he is taking it to heart and hopefully it will lead to a change for the better.’
That sadly never happened, as Hogan passed on Thursday morning.
Hulk’s reputation was damaged in the mid-2000s in a leaked audio recording when discussing how a Black man was interesting in bankrolling Brooke’s attempt at a music career.
Hogan told a family friend: ‘I don’t know if Brooke was f***ing the black guy’s son… I mean, I don’t have double standards.
‘I mean, I am a racist, to a point, f***ing n******. But then when it comes to nice people and s***, and whatever.’
He continued: ‘I mean, I’d rather if she was going to f*** some n*****, I’d rather have her marry an 8-foot-tall n***** worth a hundred million dollars! Like a basketball player! I guess we’re all a little racist. F***ing n*****.’
Brooke wasn’t the only one the wrestling legend had issues with. In recent months, his ex-wife Linda lashed out at Hulk – calling him a ‘complete liar [and] a sex addict’ who had left their family in the ‘worst mess’.